Pre-match: USA vs Jamaica -- Gold Cup Semi-Finals Wed 7/1

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by MarioKempes, Jul 1, 2019.

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  1. TheHoustonHoyaFan

    Oct 14, 2011
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Spot on. With Lowe out via YC one would expect that Michael Hector who is a very good ( Whoscored 7.0) starter for a mid table Championship squad should step in but Hector has been their starting DM because of his stability in the center of the pitch.

    Who plays CB for Jamaica might be the biggest factor in who wins the match. As I posted before, watching them shows an adventure defending set pieces even when Lowe was on the field.
     
  2. gogorath

    gogorath Member+

    None
    United States
    May 12, 2019
    That's actually why I like what Berhalter is trying to run.

    Any selection you make in our pool, if we try to run a two or three man central midfield, we're not going to be able to connect the defense to the attack. We've seen it for YEARS, and it's been rare times when we've had the central midfielders to pull it off.

    As much as I love Adams and McKennie, they aren't anywhere near where they need to be offensively to change that. They have moments and in McKennie's case, halves, but there's not enough consistency there to rely on. That will change, I hope.

    We also don't have the talent to route the ball offensively up the sides in a consistent manner.

    So you basically have two options:

    1. Overload the central midfield and give them help (the Berhalter option, though there are more ways to do it.)
    2. Every time you get possession in a non-counter situation, boot it long to a target forward we don't have.

    I would rather us try #1 for that portion of the game. We can always do #2 if it really isn't working.

    Agree. And lost in the fact that I defend Berhalter and don't view Morales as the answer is the fact that I wouldn't have brought back Bradley at all. I'd love to try Adams at the RB spot because it looks very disruptive, but if it's him at DM, I'm also great.

    And I agree that the press style GGG is trying won't work until CM has some better defenders.

    That said, I don't get Roldan's play. The dude is usually a good defender. This shouldn't be out of his league.

    Part of the reason I can't get as worked up about certain parts of the roster is that the replacements are just uninspiring. Nagbe? Okay? He's not moving the needle.

    It's also why I worked up over striker.

    We'll see. I understand the concern. Amongst many reasons, it's a shame Adams isn't here, as it would allow us to see whether Berhalter is more flexible on players than a lot of folks think.

    I have hope the roster will rise to the level.

    Except LB. I have no idea where we are getting a LB.
     
  3. Excellency

    Excellency Member+

    LA Galaxy
    United States
    Nov 4, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Arriola was tried in mid with club in Mexico and it wasn't good. Bruce had him there in Couva. He's not a mid. That's the short answer. It has been tried, i.o.w.
     
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  4. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Anybody notice that five different USMNT coaches haven't really rated Lichaj? [Bradley, Klinsmann, Arena, Sarachan, Berhalter]. Fabian Johnson had an injury that kept him out a lot of the spring. A thing injury. I wonder if he's been prioritizing recovery. He was out until some time in May, which wasn't that much before Berhalter needed to finalize his roster.

    We've got help on the way.......................Chris Gloster of Hannover is really good. Lots of rumors that PSV have been trying to acquire him. That kid is about to break out in a big way. I was totally impressed with him at the U20 World Cup.

    https://www.espn.com/soccer/psv-eindhoven/story/3889217/source-psv-make-bid-for-us-youth-gloster
     
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  5. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    I thought he had a decent 2017 Gold Cup from what I remember of him, but it just seems like he was always beaten out by Yedlin.

    What Bigsoccer really needs is for Tannenwald or whoever to ask Gregg about every single player in the pool and why they weren't called in.

    "Ok, let's start with the As. Can you give reasons for Acosta, Adu, Agbossoumonde, Agudelo..."
     
  6. NietzscheIsDead

    NietzscheIsDead Member+

    NO WAR
    United States
    May 31, 2019
    NO WAR
    Gloster looked good in that tourney. He and Dest as dynamic outside backs where the most special aspect of that team, IMO.
     
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  7. ifsteve

    ifsteve Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Jul 7, 2013
    MS and ID
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All this system talk makes me sick.
    All the formation talk makes me sick.
    All the roster talk makes me sick.

    Every soccer team on the planet plays some loose structure and formation.
    Every soccer team on the planet has some foundational tactics they use as overarching approach.

    And every freaking soccer player worth a crap modifies their play at any given time during a match based upon the current circumstances.. Move to attack. Drop deeper to support the defense. Push wide to counter. Stay inside to control the ball.

    It matters almost zero what tactics or formation a team plays. What matters is that they are all good players and on the same page for every situation that occurs during the game. If you are on the same page and communicating well then ANY formation and tactic foundation will work. If they aren't on the same page and totally in tune with each other during the match then things fall down no matter the system you are using.
     
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  8. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    The fact that you're in here is on you, man.
     
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  9. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    this raises the question, disguised by the bad team blowouts, of whether our selections are really being driven by work rate and perceived chasing prowess -- defense -- as opposed to offense. that is the only way in which zardes makes sense over jozy or sargent, who are lackidaisical or indifferent defenders.

    now, if you wanted them for their offense, he's down the list and IMO we left off a few who are better actual strikers. but is that the metric.

    which gets into my giggle inducing theory of some backs and DMs picked for passing -- Ream, Bradley -- and some attackers picked for defense. how could that possibly go wrong.

    where i would say it goes wrong is Wondo. who never showed the MLS finishing for the Nats against anyone decent. and if you have to play the tactical chaser type in a "need a goal" situation, he whacks it over in the world cup. worst thing you can do is convince yourself someone is something they aren't. i get using a player for exactly what they are. i don't get selling yourself they have qualities they don't.

    people knock me pushing sargent or green but in a tough game you either have the player who can put away that half chance, or not. zardes to me is wondo, or twellman before him. "club form" makes you want to believe he can do something that against the appropriate level of team doesn't happen. the worst possible scenario is continuing to believe your own press conferences on this until they miss a goal against a team that gives few chances in a game you absolutely have to get.
     
  10. juvechelsea

    juvechelsea Member+

    Feb 15, 2006
    honest question:

    if we are hell bent on get the ball wide and cross....

    who are the current target people who can head that kind of ball in that you would field? or do they exist at this point in time.

    there are the obvious historical examples, mcbride, lesser extent ching and gordon. is there any heir to that throne?

    cause to me if this is the premise i want someone who can play 30 or more minutes as a big lunk header finisher, on the other end of the crosses. otherwise why bother. it's like playing kickball over the top and expecting sargent to win a foot race. for example, on that one goal this spring, punt over the top, zardes and pulisic work together, fast break, goal. zardes tactics would be suck the other team out and play him into the space behind them. what MLS team would play a crossing offense with Zardes as the target. match the players to the tactics. so is there anyone to play in the middle to head in crosses?
     
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  11. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    morris is a better 9 than zardes...why not just play both?
     
  12. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    getting the ball out wide to cross all game long is such a losing strategy at the top levels of the sport....the defenders are just too good.

    the only way it works is if you have a huge advantage in athleticism across the board...and you have great corsserd and you have a big target forward like zlatan or djeko or somebody....

    but teams like jamaica etc are actually more athletic than the us is.....

    how many crosses vs pananma ever made it through the thicket of defenders blocking them?

    it just doesnt work.
     
  13. Ace08

    Ace08 Member

    May 30, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Anybody notice our last 5 coaches haven't been that great?

    Lichaj is a very good one on one defender. For a player pool lacking a true quality LB it's hard to justify leaving him off THIS roster...which is even worse at that position than what the majority of the other 5 had since Fabian was still in the fold back then.
     
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  14. adam tash

    adam tash Member+

    Jul 12, 2013
    Barcelona, Spain
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    he's so much better than lovitz its criminal.
     
  15. Ace08

    Ace08 Member

    May 30, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    You spelled Ream incorrectly
     
  16. roby

    roby Member+

    SIRLOIN SALOON FC, PITTSFIELD MA
    Feb 27, 2005
    So Cal
    Anybody notice the players those coaches had haven't been that great! :oops:
     
  17. Ace08

    Ace08 Member

    May 30, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Or maybe the coaches just didn't call in the right players? Also a reason none of those 5 coaches are considered great at what they do or have gone in to do big things for big clubs or national teams?
     
  18. a_new_fan

    a_new_fan Member+

    Jul 6, 2006
    I have switched to ur side I am so excited to see what he does tonight a tactical wizard just can't be pinned down who knows what he'll go with tonight.

    I mean 2,3,4,5 in the mid who knows I mean anything could happen who knows what the lineup will be or the formation or the tactics. Have we ever had a coach like this?

    oh wait we are talking about greg he'll play the same style and hope lima magically became a creative winger overnight and the lineup he may try to get his guys gonzo/trapp in there and there is a 10% chance altidore starts over his guy but lets be honest...we know exactly how they'll lineup...how they'll play and unless pulisic is brilliant how they'll struggle.
     
  19. IndividualEleven

    Mar 16, 2006
    When used as a conventional leftback, Robinson has been solid for the team. Berhalter used him as a kind of possession wingback, instead.
     
  20. juveeer

    juveeer Member+

    Aug 3, 2006
    3Gs needs him a Sancho Panza!
     
  21. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Not like friendlies matter, but he played for Bayern in USA games last year, and plenty of people seen those.
     
  22. butters59

    butters59 Member+

    Feb 22, 2013
    Cannon is pretty close to Lima. Lima is playing LB for Quakes and might be the best LB on the roster, for sure the fastest.
     
  23. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    Must admit I'm glad CONCACAF is not allowing the post-group swapping of six players. Having it every other year and always in the same country is already enough to make it look amateurish.
     
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  24. schrutebuck

    schrutebuck Member+

    Jul 26, 2007
    Lichaj made his professional debut in the 2010-11 season, and Bob Bradley capped him in 8 out of the last 12 matches he led as manager, including starts in the last 4 Gold Cup matches that year.

    Half of Lichaj's US caps occurred under Bradley.
     
  25. CMeszt

    CMeszt Member+

    Farewell Sweet Prince
    Jan 9, 2004
    Gentrification's Apex.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Plus, it's not like it helped us last time around.
     

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